‘Well, I reckon inflation is the real problem. Everything going up, up, up. When I was a kid you could buy an ice cream for sixpence and get into the movies for half a crown.’

‘Oh, Pearly,’ said Helen. ‘Things move on, for heaven’s sake.’

‘Now it’s always less for more,’ persisted Pearly. ‘Even the biscuits and pineapple chunks are half the size they used to be — gobstoppers no bigger than marbles. Everything’s getting smaller, more expensive and less reliable.’

‘It’ll never stop,’ said Andrew lightly. ‘It’s a dog chasing its tail. Inflation is a sign of endemic human greed. But we shouldn’t bore Helen with this stuff on a summer evening. Tell me about the town and these plans you have for the port.’

And that’s what Pearly did as the sun went down behind the hills in flames and the light drained away, leaving a warm dusk in which illumination from the street poles became more obvious. Andrew seemed attentive, but after the glimpses of the wide canvas of his life, Pearly was conscious of a Lilliputian quality to his own. How was it that the quiet swot of provincial school days had hatched into a notable who pronounced on the financial policies of governments?

‘Talk about charisma,’ said Helen when Andrew had left. ‘What an interesting life, what good manners. I bet his mother’s proud. What was he like at school?’

‘Dux. That’s what he was like.’

‘I know that, but what else?’

‘Not much else,’ said Pearly. ‘I think he had a job after school: delivering stuff or something like that. He was okay, but we didn’t kick around together much. He wasn’t into sport except for a bit of badminton, and no one bothered about badminton then. At least he wasn’t a greaser with the teachers like some of his mates. Porteous was one of them. A real greaser.’

‘You just don’t like him.’

‘A pompous bore.’

‘Well, Andrew’s not a bore,’ said Helen. She was packing the dishwasher while Pearly stood by her side eating one of the homemade yo-yo biscuits they’d enjoyed with coffee. Andrew had complimented her on the flavour. ‘I’m looking forward to hearing his address at the formal dinner.’

‘Yeah, something different I suppose. I just hope he doesn’t go on about economics. It’s supposed to be about the school.’

‘What an interesting life. Starting here and ending up on the other side of the world with a title.’

‘And a marriage bust-up,’ said Pearly. ‘He didn’t have so much to say about that.’